Dump block assembly



W; B. SMITH DUMPBLOCK ASSEMBLY Sept 22, 1959 Filed Jan. 28. 1954 QZMINVENTOR dmz%/,

ATTORNEYS.

DUMP BLOCK ASSEMBLY Willis D. Smith, Vancouver, Wash, assignor, by mesneassignments, to Electric Steel Foundry, Portland, reg., a corporation ofOregon, now by change of name to Electric Steel Foundry CompanyApplication January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,85t9 4 Claims. (Cl. 37-135)This invention relates to a dump block assembly and, more particularly,to a support or mounting device for a dump block such as those used withdragline buckets.

It has been common for many years to dig, transfer and otherwise handlematerials of vastly different character by apparatus using draglinebuckets and such buckets and their use is well known. conventionally,dragline buckets have side walls, an end wall, and a bottom wall and areopen at their top and forward end and are equipped with teeth or pointsat the forward end of the bottom wall so that the bucket, as it is drawnforwardly in use, can dig into the material with the result that aportion thereof is scooped into the interior of the bucket. Ultimatelythe bucket is dumped to discharge the contents thereof and it is withthe dump means that this invention is particularly concerned.

The dump assembly generally includes a dump block having a pulley wheelor sheave about which a dump cable is guided-one end being connected tothe bucket and the other end to appropriate control apparatus. Theoperator is able, through manipulation of the dump cable, to cause theopen end of the bucket to tip downwardly to discharge the contentsthereof. The dump block is secured to the hoist cable and is supportedthereby above and preferably at a spaced distance from the top of thebucket.

In the past, dump blocks have been supported by or mounted upon thehoist cable in a relationship such that there has been but very limitedangular movement of the blocks with respect to the hoist cable and hoistchains which connect the hoist cable to the bucket. Thus, when thebuckets are angularly oriented, as when digging on the sides of banks,weighted more heavily on one side than on the other, etc., the durnpcable will not be in alignment with the track of the sheave. The resultof this is that the dump cable binds and Wears on the dump block frame,the hoist chains bind and wear along the sides of the bucket, andinsensitive dump control is obtained. Further, in some instances theweight of the bucket and load is carried by the hoist cable through thedump block and all of the above conditions are further aggravated.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a dump blockassembly for dragline buckets and the like that will overcome thedisadvantages described above. Another object of the invention is toprovide a dump block assembly wherein angular movement of the dump blockis afforded to permit the block to swing into substantial alignment withthe dump cable. Still another object is in the provision of a dump blockassembly in which the dump block is free to swivel in all directionsfrom a vertical center line with the result that greater freedom ofangular movement of the dump block is attained.

A further object is to provide a mounting for the dump block of adragline bucket that is of such character that the block is free toswivel and orient itself angularly relative to the hoist chains with theresult that mmo ice binding and wearing of the hoist chains issubstantially minimized. Still a further object is in providing a swivelmounting for a dragline bucket dump block so that drag and friction aregreatly reduced and more sensitive dump control achieved. Yet a furtherobject is to provide a dump block assembly wherein the dump block andmounting nests in a very small space, permitting greater range ofmovement of the bucket during the dumping operations. Additional objectsand advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of a draglinebucket equipped with a dump block assembly incorporating my invention;Fig. 2 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of adump block mounting incorporating my invention; Fig. 3 is a front viewin elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a verticalsectional view of the mounting ring and spool.

The general structure illustrated in Fig. 1 will first be described andreference will therefore be made in particular to this figure.Illustrated is a dragline bucket 10 that may be completely conventionaland which may be equipped with an open forward end and with a pluralityof angularly-depending teeth or points 11 adjacent the open forward endthereof. The bucket 10 will have side walls 12 and an end wall, and willbe open at the top. Adjacent the forward end of the bucket an archmember, designated generally with the numeral 13, is provided. Since thedragline bucket 19 is conventional and since well known in the art, itis believed unnecessary to present a more detailed description thereoffor purposes of this invention.

The side walls of the bucket intermediate the front and rear endsthereof are equipped with outwardly-ex tending trunnions 14 to which arepivotally connected hoist chains 15. As is customary, a hoist chain 15extends upwardly on each side of the bucket 10 and a spreader bar 16 maybe interposed between the two hoist chains at a distance above thebucket 10 and which is operative to spread the chains apart and toprevent binding thereof against the sides of the bucket. As is wellknown, the trunnions 14 will be off-center so that in a dumpingoperation the open forward end of the bucket will swing downwardly todump the contents thereof.

Pivotally connected to the arch member 13 adjacent the lower forward endthereof are the drag chains 17. The opposite ends of the drag chainswill be connected to a common dragline cable, not shown, that willoperate in conjunction with appropriate control apparatus and which willenable an operator to drag the bucket 10 forwardly so that the teeth 11bite into the ground or other material being Worked, with the resultthat a portion of the material will be scooped into the interior of thebucket.

A dump cable '18 is connected at one end to the eye 19 carried by theupper portion of the arch member 13 and is entrained about a pulleywheel or sheave 2i) rotatably mounted within the dump block frame 21. Atits opposite end the dump cable will also be connected to suitablecontrol apparatus and through manipulation thereof the bucket may betipped to dump the contents thereof in a dumping operation.

The dump block, which for simplicity will be designated generally withthe numeral 22, is supported upon a socket attachment 23 that is rigidlyconnected to the hoist cable 23a. As will be appreciated from aninspection of Fig. 1, the upper ends of the hoist chains 15 areconnected through pear links 24 to a shackle 25 that is pivotallyconnected to the socket attachment 23 in a manner that will besubsequently described.

The socket attachment 23 is equipped with a bifurcated lower end portionthat provides a pair of spaced branch portions 26. Each of the branches26 is equipped with an opening therethrough and. these openings arealigned and receive therethrough a pin 27.. Interposed. between thebranches 26 is a concave spool28. that has an. opening 29 therethroughthat receives. the shank of the pin 27. therein. It will'be apparentthatthe spool 28. isconfined upon the pin 27 by the branch portions 26.of the socket.

member 23 but may be rotatable. relative. to the, pin.

Also mounted upon the pin 27 is. the shackle 25 that is generallyU-shaped and is. equipped with. upwardly-- extending legs 39 thathavealigned openings. therethrough that receive the pin. The legs 3.0 are.spaced. apart and; receive therebetween the bifurcated. end portion of,the socket .233. At its lower end. the shackle. 25 is equipped. with araised centralportion. 3,1 that is. operative to orient the pear, links24 in positions. adjacent. the legs 30. The pin has. an enlarged head3.2 that is adapted to abut, one leg of the shackle 25. and at its,opposite end is. adapted to receive thereon a collar. 33 and, to-havethe, same secured thereto by means. of a lock bolt 34.

Mounted for swivel movement upon the concave spool 28 is a mounting ring35. which has an enlarged. opening 36 through. the upper portion thereofand an opening 37' of reduced diameter through the lower end portionthereof. As can be. seen best in Fig. l, the dump block 22' is secured,to. the mounting. ring 35 by means of a bolt or pin 38 that extendsthrough the frame ofthe block and. which extends also through theopening 37 inthe mounting ring. As is. seen best in Fig, 3,. themounting ring 35 is. supported upon the concave spool 28. Prefr erably,the spool 28 is concave as is illustrated, and pro-- vides a. peripheralsurface 39' that has a lowered central portion. and rises graduallytoward; the ends of the. spool. Thus the mounting ring3z5. tends to becenteredupon the. spool 28.

Operation.

The dump block assembly described. provides a. mounts ingwherein thedragline. bucket is carried. by the hoist cable, which is not shown,through the. hoist chains-.15, the shackle 25, pin 27 and socket 23 and,therefore, the weight of the bucket and its. contents is not carried bythe dump block 22. The shackle 25 and socket 23 are rotatably mountedupon. the shank of pin 27- so that freedom ofmovement of the bucket isafforded.

The dump block 22 is carried directly by the mounting ring 35 which inturn is supported upon the concave spool 28 carried by the pin 27. Themounting ring 35 is free to move independently of the shackle 25 andsocket23. The socket 23, however, is operative to constrain the mountingring 35 in position upon the spool 28 while the concave peripheralsurface 39. ofthe spool tends to center the ring 35 with respectthereto. Not only is the mounting ring 35 free to pivot upon the spool28 from a lower position, as indicated in Fig. 4, through an angularposition, such as is indicated in Fig. 2, and to substantially ahorizontal position as indicated in Fig. 1, but the mounting ring mayalso swing laterally through positions such as the one indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3. Further, the enlarged. opening 36, whilepermitting the freedom of movement heretofore described, also permitsthe mounting ring 35 to swivel or to turn slightly in a vertical plane,which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the. pin27. Thus the dump block 22 which is carried by the mounting ring 35 isfree to rotate within limits about the axis of the pin 27, can swinglaterally, and can also twist or swivel upon the spool 28.

In operation of a dragline structure such as the one shown in Fig. l,the bucket 10' may be used to dig the walls of banks, etc. where it willbe positioned along skew lines relative to the dump cable, but there;will be little binding of the dump cable upon the frame of the dumpblock for the blockwill be free. to swing into substantial alignment;with the dump cable irrespective of the position of the dragline bucket10. Thus there will be no binding forces imposed upon the hoist chains15 by the dump block 22 in its effort to swing into alignment with thedump cable and the hoist chains will not then bind against the sidewalls 12 of the bucket and friction and wearing of the chains and bucketwill be considerably minimized. In the dumping of a load carried by thebucket, the dump cable will respond readily to manipulation by anoperator and the response will be sensitive, permitting more accuratecontrol over the dumping operations. Moreover, he. dum lock 225 andmounting therefore nests in a relatively small space and the rear endportion of the bucket 10 may be swung upwardly through a considerable'ang-lewithout the dump block and mounting therefor interfering with andlimiting the movement. Therefore, quicker and more effective dumping andloading of the bucket contents is realized.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention hasbeen set out in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that considerable deviationin these details may be made without departing from the spirit andprinciples of the invention.

I claim:

1. Mounting apparatus for a dragline dump block, com;

prising a pin, a concave spool mounted upon said pin intermediate the.ends thereof, socket means carried by said' pin and being adapted tohave a hoist cable secured thereto, a shackle carried by said pin andbeing adapted to have dragline bucket hoist. chains connected thereto,

whereby the weight of a. dragline bucket is adapted to be.

carried directly by a hoist cable, through said socket means, pin andshackle, and a mounting ring having an enlarged annular openingtherethrough of substantially greater diameter than the outer dimensionsof said spool; and being adapted to receive said spool therein, saidringbeing adapted to be secured to a mounting block, the width of said,ring being substantially less than the length of said spool wherebyswivel movement of the ring upon said spool is afiorded.

2. A dump block assembly for dragline buckets, comprising a mountingring, a dump block carried by said mounting ring, a spool equipped witha concave peripheral surface, said mounting ringbeing equipped with anenlarged arcuate opening therethrough of substantially greaterdimensions than the outer dimensions of said spool and receiving saidspooltherein, said mounting ring being substantially narrower than saidspool and having a convex contour about said opening whereby the ring isfree to swivel thereabout, said spool providing an opening therethrough,an elongated pin. extending through the opening in said spool andproviding a support therefor, a shackle pivotally carried upon said pin,and a socket member pivotally carried upon said pin and having spacedleg portions receiving said spool therebetween.

3. In a dump block assembly useful with dragline buckets, a pin, ashackle piyotally carried by said pin and being adapted to have hoistchains for a dragline bucket attached thereto, a socket member havingspaced legs pivotally carried by said pin and being adapted to have ahoist. cable secured thereto, a spool member carried by said pinintermediate said spaced legs, and a mounting ring having an openingtherethrough mounted upon said spool and being adapted to have a dumpblock for a dragli-ne bucket secured thereto, said opening being greaterin size than said spool to afford substantially universal movement ofsaid ring relative to said spool; and to the pin carrying the same, theouter surface of said spool being concave and the. ring about saidopening being convex, the concavity and convexity being of substan-.tially the same curvature whereby adjacent surfaces of said spool andring are complementarily contoured so as to tend to center the ring uponthe spool.

4. In a dumpblock assembly, a socket member having a hoisting cableattachment means at one end thereof, a pin carried by said socket memberat the end opposite the said one end, an annular spool mounted on saidpin, and a relatively narrow mounting ring provided with an enlargedannular opening therethrough of greater 5 References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shogren July 18, 1865 Collis Mar.22, 1892 Gates Jan. 8, 1895 Page Mar. 17, 1920 Koelkebeck Oct. 2-1, 1924Larson et a1 May 31, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Oct. 11, 1938

